A female part of an animal-identifying device, which includes a cavity intended to receive a head of a male part of the animal-identifying device. The cavity includes a blocking element provided within the cavity to hold the head inside the cavity. The blocking element includes a base and at least two resilient claws extending from the base towards an entrance of the cavity. The claws are movable between several positions, including: a resting position before insertion of the head into the cavity, in which the claws are relaxed; an insertion position, in which the claws are stressed into opening; and a blocking position after insertion of the head into the cavity, enabling blocking of the head inside the cavity.

A bioabsorbable tissue support is inserted into a tissue of a subject during, or after, puncture of the tissue. The bioabsorbable tissue support includes a material that is gradually absorbed into the punctured tissue in time, and disappears. The bioabsorbable tissue support may be inserted standing alone, or in association with a permanent or temporary non-bioabsorbable tissue support, may define the shape of the punctured hole, and/or may release useful or ornamental chemicals into the punctured tissue. The chemical may include an antibacterial material, an antifungal material, an antimicrobial material, topical anesthetic, a temporary or permanent dye material, and/or an antiproliferative agent. The non-bioabsorbable tissue support may include a self-expanding material that enlarges the size of the puncture in time. The bioabsorbable tissue support may have the form of a tube and/or a mesh of variable peripheral shapes, be elongated, and/or have attachable and detachable end plates and pointed tips.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

A female part of an animal identification device. The female part includes a head having an inner receiving cavity that can receive a tip of a male part of the identification device. The female part includes at least one element for fixing an accessory to an outer face of the head. The at least one fixing element is in the form of at least one groove.

A system and method are disclosed for tracking animals, which may include production animals as well as pets. The system and method may comprise a tag system that is attached to an animal that generally has at least a near-field-communication (NFC) tag. The tag system comprises at least an NFC tag and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. For NFC tags, such tags may be read with a portable computing device, such as a mobile telephone running NFC reader application software. The phone may communicate with a communications network and ultimately a computer server in order to relay information received from a respective electronic tag. The electronic tags may be fastened, embedded, or ingested by an animal. The electronic tags may be part of a mechanical coupling. Each mechanical coupling may comprise a different structure depending on the whether the tags are fastened to, embedded in, or ingested by the animal.

A female part of an animal identification device. The female part includes a head having an inner receiving cavity that can receive a tip of a male part of the identification device. The female part includes at least one element for fixing an accessory to an outer face of the head. The at least one fixing element is in the form of at least one groove.

An animal wellness notification system includes an attachment body configured to securely engage with an ear of the animal; an elongated temperature probe secured to the attachment body and configured to extend within the ear of the animal; a housing secured to the attachment body; a power module electrically connect to and configured to provide power to (or recharge) at least one other element of the animal wellness notification system; a computer disposed within the housing and operably associated with the temperature probe; and a notification device in data communication with the computer, the notification device being configured to provide notice if a temperature of the animal goes beyond a determined.

An animal wellness notification system includes an attachment body configured to securely engage with an ear of the animal; an elongated temperature probe secured to the attachment body and configured to extend within the ear of the animal; a housing secured to the attachment body; a computer disposed within the housing and operably associated with the temperature probe; and a notification device in data communication with the computer, the notification device being configured to provide notice if a temperature of the animal goes beyond a determined threshold.

An apparatus for raising livestock includes one or more confinement pens together with alleyways for transfer of the animals from one location to another. The apparatus includes one or more cameras for obtaining images of all animals in the containment area. A processor is provided for analyzing the images, the processor being arranged to allocate an arbitrary identification to each animal and to track all animals continually to maintain the allocation. From this tracking various data related to individual animals or the animals as a group can be obtained to assess their characteristics and to provide an indication to the worker of the animal to be extracted. The processor can be arranged to detect by image analysis of the image a quantity of feed and/or water in a feeder and to obtain images of the farrowing pen including the sow confinement area and at least one piglet confinement area.

A system and method are disclosed for tracking animals, which may include production animals as well as pets. The system and method may comprise a tag system that is attached to an animal that generally has at least a near-field-communication (NFC) tag. The tag system comprises at least an NFC tag and a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag. For NFC tags, such tags may be read with a portable computing device, such as a mobile telephone running NFC reader application software. The phone may communicate with a communications network and ultimately a computer server in order to relay information received from a respective electronic tag. The electronic tags may be fastened, embedded, or ingested by an animal. The electronic tags may be part of a mechanical coupling. Each mechanical coupling may comprise a different structure depending on the whether the tags are fastened to, embedded in, or ingested by the animal.